San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-09-09
A Dangerous Game.
BY THE AUTHOR OF my DEAREST HEART"


nave nothing 10 conceal must be careful fA
the sakes OF those who have much"
lie laid sinister emphasis on the last sem
tence; but | was not alarmed. | did not be-
lieye he, with all his craft, knew Of the
meetings by the lake in Gabriel's Walk, nor
did greatly care.
My worst fear fought against for long;
but at last 1t had 10 be acknowledged. Craw-
ford Garden was trying To weave his tolls
round me, 10 make me a victim Of his hand
some face, his tlattcry, his fair speeches, his
soft voice. He was a clever man, skiltul,
audaciOuS, INSCRIPTIONS | was a young
ignorant girl. If my heart had been still
free and untouched as when came TO the
Grange, j cannot be sure that his constant
efforts would not have been successful, and
might in different circumstances have been
brought TO fancy myself in love with him,
lonely as | was, and seeing him night after
night in the presence Of only the eccentric
old man who repOsed his strange secrets i'm
us. In love with him! All, Heaven help
the woman who should love Crawford Car
den!
Why should he trouble 10 entangle me?
Was it merely pour pdssCr LG temps, or only
the desire to flirt with any woman who came
in his way, heightened perhaps by the an
tagonism he must have perceived in my
manner?
| believed then his plot was to insinuate
himself into Mr.. GascOigne's favor, aud sup
plant the three helpless gifts, as he had al
ready helped to GUST the two young men,
one Of whom was now his partner.
Twas safe from all his compliments and
his snares, because had given away my
heart to one worthy of its devotion. | had
learned to love Gilbert GascOigne; and, as
the shadows of the old Grange grew darker
and the whispers Of coming evil louder, he
stood out brighter and clearer in an atmOs-
phere Of sunshine and truth and beauty,
and, while was with him, the haunting
figure of Garden and the whispers of the old
oak room faded and died away.
Yet these two men, different as night and
day, were partners. In Gardens business
Gilbert had invested all the fortune he had
| chafed and fretted at the thought, but that
was wOman-like, all | could do. Gilbert,
in his young trusting light-heartedness,
laughed at my prejudice, and, so far as
knowledge went, my lips were sealed.
There was never a spring like that spring,
never leafy June like that one in which
my love nfolded. l could not help but love
Gilbert Gascoigne; and, before | well knew
why the days had grown so bright, why life
was so sweet and why loved the lake and
the low gray wall and the narrow lane,
learned that he loved me.
"iiOw can you care for mep' | said to him.
What is there i'm Inc that you can love?"
There was none like him in the whole
world; but what was | that | could be
worthy of him?
"YOu are the dearest and best and lowell
est woman on earth to me, Violap' he an
swered.
But | am not lovely, like Hilda, nor
clever, nor rich. wish | werep'
''Dear, do not want you like Hilda. do
not want you different from what you are;
and | would not change your dark eyes and
your frank face for all the golden hair and
all the heiresses in London. | cannot live
without you, ViOlal Look up and tell me
that you care a little bit for me-"
And | told HIM falterngly that did love
him.
81 d. not think you could deceive me-"
he said his earnest eyes on my face. There
is truth in your eyes" And looked up
suddenly and asked him question.
III you SnOulu nnu-any tllne-tnat nau
deceived yOu-that l had concealed any
thing from you, would you cease to love
nt?'
1t was passing thought of Crawford CAY
den which rose up in my mind. Even then
the memory of him seemed TO bring fore
bOding of evil that he, Gilbert's partner,
might do us.
Il can trust yOu," he said, smiling.
There was no fOndneSS for mystery or
secrecy about my lover; he was loyal and
upright and true. 1 was to tell Mr. Gas
cOigne of my engagement that same after
noon, and was to return to my own home
until the few months had elapsed in which
the marriage arrangements might be made.
Il am not rich man, Viola" he said;
'but we shall have enough, and it will not
take me long to get home at NOrbury ready
for my BRIDE"
AS for Annis, when l told her, she was in
an ecstasy of cOntentment, and cried and
kissed me, and said that we would both be
married on the same day, and be sisters ever
afterwards.